Yielding retainer for visible index card holders



J. R. CLARK 1,816,637

YIELDING RETAINER FQR VISIBLE INDEX CARD HOLDERS July 28, 1931.

Filed June 26, 1930 INVENTOR (lune; 1?. flank,

Patented July 28, 1931 k UNITED 'STATfE-S PATENT OFFICE JAMES R. CLARK, OF ROCHESTER, NEW yonxnssrenon TO THE, YAWM'AN & ERBE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Application filed June 28,

In a copending application filed by the present applicant of even date herewith, Serial No. 463,918, there is shown, described and claimed mechanism for retaining card holders in a visible'index tray yieldingly and facilitating theirremoval by relieving the retaining bar of the spring action by positive actuation of a spring-compressor. The presentinvention relates to mechanism which is-of compact and simple construction and adapted to accomplish generally the purposes set forth in said copending application. In accordance with the present invention, however, instead of employing a spring-compressor for the purpose of relieving the retainingbar from the spring action, elements are provided which are so associated as to permit virtualelimination of all spring action so that the retaining bar may be free for displacement laterally under th'einfiuence of the card holders to be removed. In accordance with the principle involved the spring elements while normally operative to press the retaining bar yieldingly against the card holders may have their spring actually nullified at will by permitting them to take their natural set. More particularly, the preferred embodiment contemplates adjustable spring seats movable for the purpose of stressing the springs during the time that the retaining bar is to be effective and relieving-this stress wheneverit is desired to displace the retaining bar. A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with elements. of the, character set forth manually operable devices for thus stressing and relieving the stress on suchspring elements. Still affurther object is to provide means for yieldingly maintaining the springs normally in stressed condition, such means permitting, nevertheless, manipulation of the elements for the purpose of relieving the spring stress.

Referenceisnow to be had to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in plan of a visible index tray, parts being broken away to show the retaining mechan'sm. A p

' Figure 2is a'view-similar to Figure 1" and YIELDING RETAINER FOB VISIBLE INDEX CARD HOLDERS 1930. SeriaI No. 463,919.

on a larger scale showing the retaining mechanisniin position to relieve the stress on the holding springs.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section throughthe tray shown in Figure 2 alongthe plane indicated by the line'3 -3 of Figure 2. Figure iis a fragmentary. detailed view in section on the line 44 of Figure 2 showing the relationship of the retaining bar for the card holders, the shiftable spring seat andthe finger pull for operating the spring seat.

The card tray a may be of any approved form having side flanges 0/, a constituting channels in one of which may be disposeda bar 6 or the equivalent to position the'card holders 0. The other ends of the card holders 0 rest within the channel a and'the card holders are normally retained yieldingly against lateral displacement by the devices'to be described. In order to remove a card holder from the tray it is desirable to permit itto be shifted towards the left as viewed in the drawings until its right-hand end is free'from the flange a after which it may be lifted out. The retaining barillustrated'consists'of an L-shaped stiff member (Z, the vertical flange on which may engage the ends of the holders 0 and the web of which may rest flatwise on the bottom of the tray within the channel. a.

This retaining member, which may be formed as a stamping,may have struck Lip-therein at intervals ears cl bet-ween which aredisposed flat springs 6. These springs seat on a longie tudinally slidable bar fwhichmay, in the interest of compactness, be nested withthe retaining member Z, the springs 6 being operatively interposed between the bar 7 and the flange of the retaining member, On the proximate edge of the ,bar f are. spaced at intervals corresponding to the springs e, scallops f which, if'desired, may be substantially straight-lined or somewhat curved, as shown. When the bar is in normal position, that is in such position as to insure action of the springs e on the retaining hard the springs e are stressed and engage the bar f generally either at points onits straight edge or'ladj acent to the ends of the scallops ffl as'shown in Figure 1. Atthistime, the spring-bar (Z one resists yieldingly lateral movements of the card holders 0. One feature of the invention residesin the provision of means for automatically but yieldingly maintaining the bar f in this relationship. One such means maycomprise a coiled spring 9 mounted within the tray 41!. under the front plate a so as to be concealed. One end of this spring seats on a lug 9 provided for that purpose and the free end engages the end of thebar 7 and urges the bar yieldingly in such direction as will maintain that relationship between the bar and the springs e which will insure such a degree of stress on the springs as may be desirable. NVhen the bar 1'' is moved longitudinally against the action of the spring 9 the scallops f will be brought opposite their respective springs 6 so that these springs may virtually take their natural set at which time they are practically free from stress. To accomplish this, of course, the depth an d width of the scallops must be apportioned to the springs and the relief desired. Since the bar I seats at the bottom 01 the channel a it may be reciprocated in a straight line. A'finger pull 72 may be engaged with the bar f to facilitate such reciprocation, a slot at in the flange a being provided to permit free movement of the finger pull within the desired limits. When the stress on the springs c has been thus relieved with the parts in the relative positions indicated in Figure 2, it will be evident that the retaining bar Y) may be moved. laterally with virtual treedom by moving any one or more of the card holders laterally tothe left as viewed in the drawings. After the holders have been removed and pressure is released from the finger pull 72. the spring 9 will at once reciprocate the bar f in the opposite direction with suflicient force to return it, to such relation with the springs e as will again give their predetermined stress to hold the retaining bar yieldingly against displacement.

Changes in the form of the elements, substitution of equivalents and reversal of parts will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art but any such departures are to be deemed Within the invention so long as they accompllsh the same purpose in accordance with the general principles set forth and fall within the appended claims.

' What I claim is: v a 1. In combination with a tray having chan nels along its side edgesytransversely disposed rigid members engaged with the channels, a retaining bar engaging the ends of said members, springs to urge the retaining bar yieldingly against said members, and means to remove the stress of said springs.

2. In combination with a tray having channels along its side edges, transversely, disposed rigid members engaged with the chan nels, a retaining bar engaging the ends of sardmembers, springs to urge the retaining bar yieldingly against said members,

bar yieldingly against said members, and

means to eliminate the spring action.

3. In combination with a tray havmg chans a retaining bar engaging the ends of springs to urge the retaining and for said springs to nels, said members,

means to change the seats reduce their stress.

4. In combination with a visible index card tray and rigid card holders mounted therein, channels along the edges of the tray in which the ends of the card holders are disposed, at bar mounted at the bottom of one of the channels and presenting spring seats, springs engageable with said seats, a retaining bar engaged by said springs and normally pressing against the ends of said card holders, an means to move the first-named bar to change the spring seats whereby the stress of the springs may be varied.

Y 5. In combination with a visible index card engaged by said springs and normally pressing against the ends of said card holders, and means to move the first-named bar longitudinally to change the spring seats to'vary the stress of the springs.

6. In combination with a visible index card tray and rigid card holders mounted therein, channels along the edges of the tray in which the ends of the card holders are disposed, a bar mounted at the bottom of one of the channels and presenting spring seats, springs engageable with said seats, a retaining bar engaged by said springs and normally pressing against the ends of said card holders, means to move the first named bar longitudinally to change the spring seats to vary the stress of the springs, and yielding meansto maintain paid, first-named bar in predetermined posi- 7. In combination with a visible card index tray having channelsalong its side edges and rigid card holders disposed therein, a retaining bar for the card holders dis osed within one channel, springs engaging t e retaining I selectively into engagement with therespective springs to vary their tension.

- 8. In combination with a tray having channels along its side edges and rigid members extendlng transversely of c, the tray and mounted within said channels, /aretaining 7 bar.

This specification signed this 24 day of June, A. D. 1930.

JAMES R. CLARK. 

